. >> reporter: jim boyce is the supervising lifeguard at healdsburg veterans memorial beach. >> i am a retired schoolteacher now. so that has always been my retired gig. >> reporter: for decades, he has seen the dam go up every summer to create this large swimming area. the finishing touches on thursday were put up hours before the official opening. >> it is kind of the special opening celebration today. it is the first time in three years the dam has gone up. >> reporter: boyce is expecting 1500 people each day of this holiday weekend. lines begin as early as 6:00 a.m. to grab a parking spot. >> is just such a joyous place because the river is such a joyous place to be. >> reporter: amy hernandez and her family are some of the ones who enjoy the newly created swimming area. >> at israel good. it is safe for the kids. they do not get to coast in the latter. the keys are to not drink and some, make sure a lifeguard is nearby, and -- >> the most important thing is to just keep an eye on your children. >> reporter: jim will be one of the lifeguards keeping an eye on everyone this weeken

jim boyce is the supervising life guard here. >> i started in 1977, okay? so i'm a schoolteacher, retired now. that's always been my summer, you know, gig. >> reporter: for decades, he's seen the dam go up every summer to create this large swimming area. the finishing touches on the dam were just put up on thursday hours before the official opening. >> it's kind of a special, um, celebration really today when they put in that last board because that's the first time in three years it's gone up. >> reporter: he's expecting roughly 1500 people each day of the holiday weekend. lines at the parking lot start forming as early as 6:00 in the morning to grab one of the few parking spots. >> it's just a joyous place because the river is such a beautiful place to be. >> reporter: amy hernandez and her family were some of the first ones to enjoy the newly created swimming area. >> it's nice. it's good. it feels safe for the kids. >> reporter: boyce says the keys to having a fun and safe time in the river are to not drink and swim, make sure a life guard is nearby, an